Customer Reviews

Birnbaum 2001 Walt Disney World: Expert Advice from the Inside Source (Birnbaums Walt Disney World, 2001)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think you need to balance this book with "the unnofficail guide". This book is "the world according to Disney" Only. And while it is very very very helpful there are hints and tricks and tips that it doesnt address. It also isn't entirely helpful if you want to stay off of the property or judge "value" of Disney packages and products. That said, I still think it is a necessesity. There are coupons (but they are DATED!), insider information, phone numbers, addresses, descriptions, etc. This book is especially helpful if you are spending your entire vacation at the Disney property... If your looking for info about what meal may not be worth the price..or might not be good... this book isnt going to tell you. It is entirely PRO-DISNEY! That might not be a bad thing Disney is a great place...but you do need some balance.

The key to planning a good Disney Vacation is understanding the source of your information. Birnbaum is writing what Disney wants people to perceive Disney to be, perfect. While this book gives you good planning information, take it with a grain of salt and understand that you have just paid good money for a travel brochure that, in effect, should be free from Disney.

This is the only place that you will find all the pretty pictures of WDW, and is the PERFECT book if you are planning with kids for that reason alone.

Birnbaum's books are the "insider" information, which would make you think that you are getting information that you would not get anywhere else, but that is far from being true. There are a number of planning guides that share the same information that you will find here. I have not been a big fan of Birnbaum's books in the past, yet they have been getting better.

If you plan to buy this book, fine, but also get the opinions from another independent source such as a Disney fan in your family, the Internet, or the "Unofficial" guide to WDW. Balance out your information with a dose of reality and you will feel good about the investment in this magical journey.

The key to planning a good Disney Vacation? Balance of information - get it from more than one source.

This is THE BOOK to bring with you to Orlando, and WDW! We travel there each summer to stay for 35 days, on property! We always buy the Birnbaum's guide, just to see all the new happenings and insider info! It has spectacular colored pictures of the attractions, and the resorts. It lists current specials and prices, just about everything you'll need to know is inside this book. In the back of the book, is a page of valuable coupons! Using the coupons-makes the book FREE! It's also a wonderful souvenier to keep and look back upon...after your wonderful journey into the "magic" of the WORLD that is DISNEY! If you are even "contemplating" a trip to the most popular vacation spot in the Country...you'll be wise to buy this book. P.S. "Have a Magical Day"

We've been traveling to Walt Disney World yearly since 1996 and haven't started an itinerary without first consulting Birnbaum's guides. They contain everything you need to know about taking a trip to the world. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned veteran, Birnbaum's guide will bring you up-to-date on all that's new and different at Walt Disney World. Something is always being added or enhanced at WDW and this easy to follow book with it's colorful graphics is one of the best sources of information on planning a magical Walt Disney World vacation.

I have been used these books everytime I have gone to Disney World and trust me that is a lot. I always use it to find out about what time the parks are opening, the inside scoop on hotels, when is the best time to eat, ect. My brother who is a disney addict, will not use any other guide to Walt Disney World! The kids and adults guides are also really great to use. The Kids guide is written for kids by kids. You get a unique perspective of the world from them! My all time companion through the magic of Disney!

Steve Birnbaum's book serves a purpose...for those who have never been to Disney, and want an overview of Disney, then this book is fine. But beware! Everything that you read makes it sound as though you can never eat a bad meal, you can never stay in a bad room...that everything about Disney is PERFECT!! This is not the case!!! If you want to know what things are REALLY like at Disney, then go for another book, like the Passporter (which is a great guidebook to help you organize your trip!) or The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.There you will read reviews of others who have stayed at the hotel you might be considering, they've eaten at the restaurant you are contemplating (and they will tell you whether it's worth it or not!) If you want to get a real feel of what Disney is like, then don't buy this one!

My boyfriend and I were going to DisneyWorld and needed a book written for someone who has never been there or hadn't been there in a while. THIS WAS THE BOOK!!! It went into great detail every ride, restaurant, hotel, etc... to help with the planning of your trip. We pretty much planned our schedule according to this book and we had an absolute blast! I highly recommend it!!!

If you are planning a trip to Disney World you have to have this guide. It gives you tips for every area in the WDW resorts and parks. We have been several times however this guide helped expand our experience. We never has such a smooth visit. It helped with planning dining and tips to get on rides faster. Well worth the price. Also this makes great bedside reading for those times you want to think of happier times or places. Walt would be happy to know this type of book existed. Very happy with mine and plan to buy one every year we go. ------ Betty

Birnbaum has done an excellant job with this year's guide to the worlds favorite vacation spot, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The Hot Tips are indeed useful, and the entire set-up of the book allows for ease of use and quick referencing.

For those who don't visit the resort every year, purchasing the latest edition is indeed a great and inexpensive way of keeping track of the Resort's myriad changes. I myself have vacationed at the Resort many times, and have really only used the book to remind me of what is going on and what changes have been made.

While the first time Resort Guest should hail this as the Resort vacationer's Bible, the experienced traveler should allow for a lot more on-Resort planning.

To sum it up: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2001 : Expert Advice from the Inside Source is a great guide for keeping track of resort changes for the experienced Guest, and should only be used as a sort of Bible by first time visitors. Hey! It's Disney! Don't plan from the book, and let the magic happen!

This book came in very handy on my latest trip. I've been to WDW 30+ times and I figured that I could write this book. Still, there was more information in it than I knew existed. The reviewers that say that this book only has what Disney wants it to say is probably true. However, I mainly used this as a guide to dining and Disney policy (check in times, costs, etc). It's true that if you wanted to find out reviews of rides and restaurants, you might want to check another guide. However, if you are looking for a GUIDE, this is probably your most accurate source.